Crossing Safeguard Pleases Council, But

Chronicle (Levin), 4 October 1949, Page 4

Crossing Safeguard Pleases Council, But

He had been very pleased to note in the Press a report from the Minister of Works, Mr. Semp.e, that a keeper was to be placed at : the Queen Street level crossing^ said tne Mayor, Mr. H. B. Rurdekin, at the fortnightly meetmg oi the Levin Borough Council, las. night. Although • it would afford protection,. he was not satisfled that the Minister's • scheme was the solution to the problem, Mr. Burdekin a'dded. It would require at least::two .men to operate a 24hour service at • the crossing ana in his opinion, a 24-hour . service was. riecessary in view of the cohtinuous heavy train traffic on the xine. This would 'mean substantial wages, probably totaling from £12 to £14 a week, for the employment of two men and he could not help thinking that in a period of a year or.two that amount would go materially towards the cost of mechanical gates, added Mr. Burdekin. Without decrying the Minister's suggestion which, after all, would alford protec.ion, he thought that the continental gate system would be the better and cheaper metho'd. Further 'discussion by councillors brought forward suggestions that small subways under the line for pedestrians only would be of great assistance to a keeper. Cr.'D. J. Sweetzer said that perhaps a revolving gate on each footpath would force people to stop and realise they were on the line. The Mayor said that shortage of labour and materials was probably the cause of a keeper being suggested instead of gates, but he thought that perhaps when it heeame possible to manufacture gates they might be considered. It was finally decide'd that the authorities be written to and the council's pleasure be expressed that protection was to -be afforded users of the Queen Street crossing, but that While not wishing to deiay the ' appointment of a. keeper, it was to be hoped that in tane the system would be substitated! by gaites, which) would1 function the full 24 hours. Mention was made by Mr. Burdekin that the young man who had been injured at the crossing recently, Mr. R. Hill, was expected home from hospital this w.eek, which was very pleasing indee'd.